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itself which I give you, because you are not always pleased with the vessel, and then the graces,
too, become deficient. I want to guard you from that, and I want you never to pay attention to the
vessel in which I send you My grace. Let all the attention of your soul be concentrated on
responding to My grace as faithfully as possible (Diary, # 1599).
II A.13 The Sacrament of Penance: The “Tribunal” or “Fountain of Mercy” 128
(13.1) The “Tribunal of Mercy” is the “Miracle of Divine Mercy” (Diary # 1448)
Jesus told Sr. Faustina:
Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in
the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation] There, the greatest
miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this
miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some
external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative
and to reveal to him one’s misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully
demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human
standpoint, there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already
be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in
full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of
God‟s mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late (Diary # 1448).
(13.2) Jesus Himself Waits for the Penitent in His “Fountain of Mercy” 129
Jesus Himself told Sr. Faustina that He is the “God of Mercy” who eagerly waits for the
humble and contrite penitent to go to Confession, which is His “Fountain of Mercy.” He
counsels the faithful to have no fear, but to have “great trust” in Him. Although “hidden,” it is
the Lord who “acts in the soul” of the penitent, to forgive his sins and to pour out abundant
graces to him; but, through the ministry of His priest or His “vessel of trust.” Sr. Faustina wrote
in her Diary:
128
129
Ibid., Faustina, Diary, # 148, 1602.
Ibid., Faustina, Diary, # 1602.
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